IMF CONNECT

Many sub-Saharan African countries are deploying digital policy responses to cope with, and cushion the effects of, the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, greater digital readiness could have allowed the region to do even more. Investing in a digital Africa today can build a smarter, more resilient Africa for tomorrow.

Information Technology partially shields the US economy from the pandemic: areas with more IT see smaller unemployment raise. Everyone benefits from IT, regardless of gender and race, except those with very low educational attainment.

Mobile money is becoming an attractive payment method in the pandemic period across the globe. We discuss three mobile money promoting policies and their potential risks.